John Lennon's doodles for the cover of his 1974 album Walls and Bridges go on sale for huge sum

Thursday, March 16, 2017

A record sleeve covered in doodles by John Lennon as he brainstormed ideas for an album cover has emerged for sale for £15,000.

The black felt tip pen sketchings are believed to have been Lennon's initial ideas for the cover of his 1974 album Walls and Bridges and span both sides of an opened-out record sleeve. The record sleeve was given by the former Beatle to Jesse Davies, a session musician who provided lead guitar on the album.

One of the drawings depicts a flying saucer with the word "UFOer" written on the bottom of the object, most likely influenced by Lennon's UFO sighting that year. This sighting was mentioned in the album liner notes: "On the 23rd Aug. 1974 at 9 o'clock I saw a UFO J.L."

On the record sleeve, in amongst the numerous doodles, he wrote the names of four people who were central to his life. These were himself, Yoko which refers to his wife Yoko Ono , May for his lover May Pang and Julian, his son who he had become reacquainted with.

This album was produced while John and Yoko were separated and Lennon was with May Pang who also worked on the album. It was a chapter in his life he called his 'lost weekend'. The word 'home' is written multiple times and to reflect his liberal views he has drawn a peace sign and a crossed out Nazi swastika.

He has also drawn a bridge, some skyscrapers, an assortment of people including man in a poncho, a sheep, a TV and two cats.